Valve for grain-separators.



0. J. H. GRANT. VALVE FOR GRAIN SEPARATOES.

APPLIOATIONYIILED DOT. 3,1907.

Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

\Umwssga UNirirn Uii- FICE.

CHARLES J.v H. GRANT, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

VALVE FOB GRAIN-SEPARATQRS;

Specification oi Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23 19 9.

Application filed October 3, 1807. Serial No. 395,782.

State of Iowa, have invented cert-a in new and useful Improvements inValves for Grain- Separators; and I do hereby-declare the followingv tobe a full, clear, and exact description of tlieinvention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeand usethe same.

This invention relates to that class of grain separators in which theseparation of impurities from grain, or of the grain itself into gradesdiffering in relative weight or quality, is effected by means oi suctionor exhaust fans, the lighter material being sucked from the stream ofgrain in its forof the separator to which it is attached being insection. Fig. 2 is a view of the same as seen from the right side ofFig. l.

' In the drawing the separator is shown diagrammatically.

A is a spout by which the grain enters, with an outlet at B lortheheavier grain.

C is asettling chamber torthe lightest materials, dust, and the like.

I) is an air-trunk leading to an exhaust fan, not shown. These parts areall ol a familiar type, and need not be particularly described.

It is uf. ual to provide the lower part of the settling chamber with agate, which is little more than a simple door hinged at the upper side,and adapted to swing outwardly. This opens when an accumulation of linestall falls in a lunn but in practice it often fails to close, and asthis part of the separator is in direct communication with the exhaust,the immediate efiect is to impair the suction, and of course theseparator fails to do its work properly. i My improved gate permits ucha mass ofimaterial to pass through and by the very nature of itsconstruction closes the gap immediately, so that there 18 no check onthe suction.

In a chamber E at the bottom ol the set tling chamber is mounted, insuitable boarings F, a rotary gate G. In practice this has a polygonalhub H n'ovided with terminal trunnions I mounted in said bearings. Tothe flat faces of the hub'are secured 'ings of sheet steel or iron,which accordingly stand at a tangent, as shown. These wings shouldpreferably be 'lleXible, 'so as to-sprin back should anything obstructtheir outer edges,

which are curved a little, as shown. The rotarygate being constructed asshown with a polygonal hub havingwings secured to the flat faces thereofto provide for the tangential arrangement of said wings requires nomeans for driving it as the weight of the talling material will causesaid gate to revolve. and discharge its contents, said materiallalb ingagainst the upper face of one of the wing. which is caused by thetangential arrangement of said wings. It is impossible with thisconstruction for the gate to stop in such a position as to bring theweight of the fall ing material on a dead center. The curved shape ofthe wings also assists in avoiding any possibility ol the stopping ofthe gate on a dead center and the consequent cloggingol the chute. Infront of the gate is a semi circular housing J, lying quite close to thor: redgcs of the wings, and embracing; two 0. .hem. This housing may bereadily removed, to give access to the gate as by re leasing hooks K, bywhich it is attached to the separator. On the opposite side of the gate,and iOllIllllgI a backnrc therclor, is an apron l1, slightly curved atl), and hinged to the separator at H. To limit its inward movement it isprovided with a simplc-braclwt N engaging a stop 0. It is hold normallyin this position elastically, as by a weight I mounted on an arm Q,which may be a part of the bracket.

A trunnion of the gate is shown in Fig. 2

provided with a pulley ll, by which con tinuous rotary movement might beimparted to the In practice this is not deemed essential, however, astho simplev dropping of masses of material on the tangent wings causesthe gate to turn, and this is all that is required 01 it. So long as itwill turn it cannot clog, and at no point in its movement does it cutoff or impair the action'of the exhaust fan.

Having thus described my invention, I

5 claim:

The combination with the settling chamber of a separator, of a rotarygate for closing the outlet of said chamber, having tangentiallydisposed resilient wings with the free ends of said wings curved, and ayieldable 10 apron arranged for cooperation with the wings of said gate.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature. in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. H. GRANT. \Vitnesses J. M. ST. JOHN,

A. H. GOUGH.

